Collector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a collector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine between a storage container of washing supplies and the assembly formed by water storage tank and the washing basket. The said collector ring ( 1 ) comprises at least one receiving cavity ( 2 ) of washing supplies (WS) from at least one washing supplies container of the vertical axis washing machine, wherein said cavity ( 2 ) provided with at least one means of fluid communication ( 21 ) directed to the space between the water storage tank and the washing basket of the vertical axis washing machine, and stands by the fact of further providing at least one deflector grid ( 3 ) disposed over at least one receiving cavity ( 2 ) of washing supplies.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a collector ring of washing supplies forwashing machine vertical axis and, more particularly, to a collector ofsupplies that is disposed between a storage container of washingsupplies and the assembly formed by water storage tank and the washingbasket, which aims to direct washing supplies (from the storagecontainer of washing supplies) to the existing space between said waterstorage tank and the washing basket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As commonly known by a person skilled in the art, vertical axis washingmachines, which are also known as top load washing machines, compriseelectromechanical rotating machines able to develop at least one washingcycle comprised of filling steps, washing steps, draining steps andcentrifugation steps.

Embodiments of conventional vertical axis washing machines areintegrated by dispensing systems of washing supplies, which aim torelease washing chemicals (soap, bleach, fabric softener, among others)in the washing space. Normally, the release of washing supplies isautomatically performed and in accordance with pre-programmed washingcycles.

It is also known by a person skilled in the art that the dispensing ofwashing supplies through different known means, is usually directed tothe space (or ring-shaped interspace) existing between the water storagetank and the washing basket. This is because it is extremely reckless todispense the washing supplies directly on the wash load (clothes andtextile articles in general) disposed within the washing basket.

One means of directing the washing supplies to the space between thewater storage tank and the washing basket comprises the usage of acomponent normally described as “collector ring”.

A conventional collector ring, as described in the technical materialpertaining to the current state of the art, comprises an annular bodythat is usually arranged on the water storage tank of the washingmachine. At the most, the said collector ring further comprises a recessaligned with the containers of washing supplies, and provided with fluidcommunication with the space defined between the water storage tank andthe washing basket. Consequently, as the washing supplies are dispensedfrom the storage containers of washing supplies, they are directed (bygravity) to the collector ring recess and then directed to said spacedefined between the water storage tank and washing basket.

A typical example of collector ring of washing supplies for washingmachine vertical axis is described in the patent document PI 1002805-6.

The use of collector rings as defined above, comprises a practical andfunctional way to standardize the flow of washing supplies.

However, the vast majority of collector rings available today presents aserious technical problem related to unwanted spreading of washingsupplies. This effect of unwanted spreading of washing supplies ispopularly termed as “splash” (technical language used by people skilledin the art).

The “splash” effect comprises, in general, the unwanted spreading ofwashing supplies to inadequate regions of the vertical axis washingmachine, and is caused by the shock of washing supplies on the recesssurface of the collector ring, wherein this shock tends to cause“splashes” in an unpredictable direction.

In a first hypothesis, the “splash” effect can cause “splashes” directedinto the washing basket. The possible occurrence is extremely harmful,after all, it is known that certain washing supplies comprise chemicalsthat, once directly exposed to certain types of fabrics, tend to promotethe degeneration thereof.

The aforementioned patent document PI 1002805-6 discloses an embodimentprovided with means which, in theory, are able to reduce the occurrenceof this first “splash” effect hypothesis.

In a second hypothesis, the “splash” effect can cause “splashes”directed to the inner face of the metal body of the vertical axiswashing machine. This possible occurrence is also extremely harmful,after all, it is known that washing supplies (and even “pure water”)tend to cause an aggressive metal deterioration. In this context, it isnoteworthy that, normally, the inner face of the metal body of thevertical axis washing machine does not usually receive anticorrosivetreatment.

At the most, this second “splash” effect hypothesis also tends to causedamage to the place where the washing machine vertical axis is seatedon, after all, it also appears that the washing supplies, once directedto the inner face of the metal body of the vertical axis washingmachine, tends to flow out (by gravity) to the ground.

The present invention arises based on this context.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is one of the objectives of this invention to present acollector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machineable to mitigate the occurrence of the first “splash” effect hypothesisdetailed above.

It is also one of the objectives of this invention that said collectorring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine be able tomitigate the occurrence of the second “splash” effect hypothesisdetailed above.

At the most, it is still one of the objectives of this invention thatthe suitable means of mitigating the “splash” effect be removable, andtherefore of easy replacement and cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

All the above objectives are fully achieved through the collector ringof washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine disclosed herein,which comprises at least one receiving cavity of washing supplies fromat least one washing supplies container of the vertical axis washingmachine. Said cavity is provided with at least a means of fluidcommunication directed to the space between the water storage tank andthe washing basket of the vertical axis washing machine.

In accordance with this invention, it is further provided at least onedeflecting grid arranged on at least one receiving cavity of washingsupplies.

Such deflector grid comprises, in general, a plurality of triangularprofiles parallelly arranged among themselves.

At the most, and preferably, said deflecting grid is physicallyassociated with the receiving cavity of washing supplies through atleast one fixing element, which can be comprised, for example, of aflexible rod projected from the deflector grid itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the subject matter of this invention will bedescribed in detail based on the figures listed below, which:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in isometric perspective, the preferred embodimentof the collector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washingmachine;

FIG. 2 illustrates, in isometric perspective, the preferred embodimentof the deflector grid belonging to the collector ring of washingsupplies for vertical axis washing machine;

FIG. 3 illustrates, in cut view, the preferred embodiment supplies ofthe collector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washingmachine, and

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the interaction between washingsupplies and the preferred embodiment of the collector ring of washingsupplies for vertical axis washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Based on the objectives of this invention, collector ring of washingsupplies for vertical axis washing machine was developed, which willhenceforth be referred only as a collector ring 1.

In general, these objectives are met through the use of a deflector grid3, which, once housed on the receiving cavity 2 of washing supplies,prevents the reverse flow (“splash” effect) of the washing supplies.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the preferred embodiment of this invention.According to FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the collector ring 1comprises a collector ring fundamentally similar to the collector ringdescribed in the BR patent document PI 1002805-6.

This means that said first collector ring is formed by a receivingcavity 2 of washing supplies WS from the washing supplies container (notshown) having a means of fluid communication 21 directed to the spacebetween water storage tank and the washing basket of the vertical axiswashing machine (both not shown).

In general, said means of fluid communication comprises an opening 21defined in the receiving cavity 2 of washing supplies itself

Anyway, the great merit of this invention is the introduction of adeflector grid 3 on said receiving cavity 2 of washing supplies.

Said third deflector grid, this comprising a plurality of profiles 31parallelly arranged to each other, as best illustrated in FIG. 2, inthis context, it is especially able to mitigate the occurrence of thereverse flow (“splash” effect) of the washing supplies WS.

This is because the said profiles 31, having their “bases” facing thesurface of the receiving cavity 2 of washing supplies, allow theconventional flow of washing supplies (top—down flow) and prevent mostof the reverse flow (bottom—up flow), which tends to “rebound” in thementioned bases of said profiles 31.

The preferred embodiment of the deflector grid 3 is shown in detail inFIG. 2.

According to FIG. 2, it appears that such deflector grid 3 has anessentially elliptical circumference, which is equivalent to theperimeter of the receiving cavity 2 of washing supplies of the collectorring 1.

The profiles 31 have a geometry specially dedicated to the objectives ofthis invention, however, the triangular configuration should not beinterpreted as limiting, but rather, preferred and exemplary. The ideais that these profiles have a “base” greater than the upper walls (ortops, which in this case comprises a single point), thus facilitatingthe conventional flow of washing supplies and hindering the occurrenceof most of the reverse flow of washing supplies.

In the case of the illustrated profiles 31, of triangular configuration,it appears that the angled “walls” further optimize the conventionalflow of washing supplies.

At the most, it is also possible to verify that said deflecting grid 3comprises a modular body, which is physically associated with thereceiving cavity 2 of washing supplies through at least one fixingelement 4.

In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it isnoted that the existence of two fixing elements 4, which compriseflexible rods projected from the deflector grid itself 3 and, inparticular , perpendicularly projected from the surrounding edge of thedeflector grid 3.

Once described an example of the preferred embodiment of the collectorring 1, it should be understood that the scope of the present inventioncovers other possible variations, which are limited solely by thecontents of the appended claims.

1. Collector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine,comprising at least one receiving cavity (2) of washing supplies (WS)from at least one washing supplies container of the vertical axiswashing machine, wherein said cavity (2) is provided with at least onemeans of fluid communication (21) directed to the space between thewater storage tank and the washing basket of the vertical axis washingmachine; said collector ring (1) is especially CHARACTERIZED by the factof further comprising at least one deflecting grid (3) disposed over atleast one receiving cavity (2) of washing supplies (WS).
 2. Collectorring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine according toclaim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said deflecting grid (3)comprises a plurality of profiles (31) parallelly arranged to eachother; the basis of at least one profile (31) has dimensions greaterthan those of its upper dimensions.
 3. Collector ring of washingsupplies for vertical axis washing machine according to claim 2,CHARACTERIZED by the fact that at least one profile (31) is triangular.4. Collector ring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machineaccording to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said deflectinggrid (3) is physically associated with the receiving cavity (2) ofwashing supplies through at least one fixing element (4).
 5. Collectorring of washing supplies for vertical axis washing machine according toclaim 4, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said fixing element (4)comprises a flexible rod projected from the deflector grid itself (3).